The enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) infection is a major factor restricting the development of animal husbandry. However, the abuse of antibiotics will lead to the antibiotic residues and emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The existing vaccines face challenges in stimulating intestinal immunity, demonstrating limited prevention effects. Therefore, it is indispensable to develop a new vaccine that is safe and suitable as a feed additive to activate intestinal immunity. This study constructed yeast-cell microcapsules (YCM) carrying the DNA vaccine against ETEC by genetic engineering. Furthermore, animal experiments were carried out to explore the regulatory effects of feeding YCM on the intestinal immune system and intestinal microbiota. Saccharomyces cerevisiae was selected as the oral delivery vehicle (microcapsules) of the DNA vaccine. The codon-optimized nucleic acid sequence of K88, the main antigen of mammal-derived ETEC, was synthesized, and the yeast shuttle vector containing the corresponding DNA vaccine expression cassette was constructed by DNA recombination. The recombinant strain of YCM was prepared by transforming JMY1. Additionally, the characteristics of the YCM strain and its feasibility as an oral vaccine were comprehensively evaluated by the fluorescence reporter assay, gastrointestinal fluid tolerance assay, intestinal epithelial cell adhesion assay, intestinal retention assessment, antiserum detection, and intestinal microbiota detection. The experimental results showed that the DNA vaccine expression cassette was expressed in mammals, and the recombinant strain of YCM could tolerate up to 8 hours of gastrointestinal fluid digestion and had good adhesion to intestinal epithelial cells. The results of mouse feeding experiments indicated that the recombinant strain of YCM could stay in the intestinal tract for at least two weeks, and the DNA vaccine expression cassette carried by YCM entered the intestinal immune system and triggered an immune response to induce the production of specific antibodies. Moreover, feeding YCM recombinant bacteria also improved the abundance of gut microbiota in mice, demonstrating a positive effect in regulating intestinal flora. In summary, we prepared the recombinant strain of YCM carrying the DNA vaccine against ETEC and comprehensively evaluated its characteristics and feasibility as an oral vaccine. Feeding the recombinant YCM could induce specific immune responses and regulate intestinal microbiota. The findings provide a reference for the immunoprevention of ETEC-related animal diseases.
Animals ; Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli/genetics* ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae/metabolism* ; Vaccines, DNA/genetics* ; Mice ; Escherichia coli Infections/immunology* ; Escherichia coli Vaccines/genetics* ; Capsules ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Female

Objective To investigate the characteristics of imprinted differentially methylated regions (iDMRs) in placentas and their correlation with preeclampsia (PE). Methods A total of 43 healthy pregnant women (control group) and 33 pregnant women with PE (PE group) at Shanghai Putuo Maternity and Infant Hospital and International Peace Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from September 2021 to September 2023 were selected. A total of 3 362 CpG sites in 62 iDMRs were analyzed in 76 placenta and 5 maternal blood samples using BisCap targeted bisulfite resequencing (BisCap-seq) assays. The CpG sites in the CpG islands of the iDMRs were assessed for their methylation levels and methylation linkage disequilibrium (MLD). Imprinted methylation haplotype blocks (iMHBs) were constructed based on MLD. The methylation levels and variablility of CpG sites and iMHBs were compared among the healthy placenta, PE placenta and blood samples. Results The CpG sites in the CpG islands of the iDMRs exhibited intermediate methylation, with adjacent sites displaying high MLD (methylation levels: 0.35-0.65, D’ ＞ 0.8). A total of 185 iMHBs were constructed using these coupled CpG sites, 60 placenta-specific iMHBs and 38 somatic iMHBs were found to be differentially methylated in the placenta compared with maternal blood (P_adj＜0.05). Twenty-seven iMHBs were identified with differentially variable methylation patterns in the placenta. The iMHBs methylation was unchanged in the PE placentas compared to the healthy placentas. Twenty-seven differentially methylated cytosines (DMCs) were identified outside the iMHBs structure, among which the methylation levels of 19 CpG sites showed statistically significant differences between the PE group and the control group (P_adj＜0.05). The quantitative results of placental compositions of maternal plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA) using placenta-specific haplotype (PSH) were highly correlated with those estimated by a deconvolution methodology (r＝0.973, P＜0.01). Conclusions The genomic imprinting features in the PE placentas were obvious, and PSH could be a potential marker of the placenta to quantify the placental compositions of maternal plasma cfDNA.

Objective:To investigate the distribution of iodine in drinking water in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and provide a basis for delineation of different types of water iodine areas and the adoption of targeted prevention and control measures, as well as scientific adjustment of intervention strategies.Methods:Using cross-sectional survey method, from June to December in 2017, a survey on the distribution of water iodine was conducted in the entire autonomous region on a township (street, Sumu, abbreviated as township) basis in accordance with the requirements of the "National Survey Plan for Iodine Content in Drinking Water". For townships with water iodine level greater than 10 μg/L found in the survey, the survey was conducted on an administrative village (community, Gacha, abbreviated as administrative village) basis. The water iodine of regions with water iodine level greater than 100 μg/L found in the survey were reviewed in 2018 - 2019. Arsenic-cerium catalytic spectrophotometry was used to test water iodine.Results:A total of 1 009 townships of 103 counties (cities, districts) were surveyed on a township by township basis, with a median water iodine of 6.7 μg/L. Among them, there were 707 townships with water iodine < 10 μg/L, accounting for 70.1%. There were 251 townships with water iodine of 10 - < 40 μg/L, accounting for 24.9%. There were 44 townships with water iodine of 40 - 100 μg/L, accounting for 4.4%. There were 7 townships with water iodine > 100 μg/L, accounting for 0.7%. A total of 3 326 administrative village of 298 townships were surveyed based on administrative villages, among which, 791 villages had water iodine < 10 μg/L, accounting for 23.8%. There were 2 031 villages with water iodine of 10 - < 40 μg/L, accounting for 61.1%. There were 468 villages with water iodine of 40 - 100 μg/L, accounting for 14.1%. There were 36 administrative villages with water iodine > 100 μg/L, accounting for 1.1%. After review, 96 administrative villages in 12 townships of 4 league cities had water iodine > 100 μg/L.Conclusions:Most areas in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region are iodine deficiency areas, and there are localized areas with high iodine levels due to water sources. Different iodine supplementation or iodine reduction measures should be taken for areas with different water iodine levels.

Objective To investigate the efficacy of combined telephone and WeChat follow-up for patients discharged with an indwelling closed thoracic drainage tube after surgery for stage Ⅲ tuberculous empyema. Methods Patients with stage Ⅲ tuberculous empyema who were discharged with an indwelling drainage tube from the Department of Thoracic Surgery, Public Health Clinical Center of Chengdu, between November 2021 and November 2022 were enrolled in this study. They were divided into an observation group (combined telephone and WeChat follow-up) and a control group (telephone-only follow-up). The quality of life (QoL), treatment adherence, and recovery outcomes were compared between the two groups. Results A total of 81 patients were included. The observation group consisted of 49 patients (31 males, 18 females) with a mean age of (38.63±15.86) years. The control group consisted of 32 patients (27 males, 5 females) with a mean age of (36.91±17.33) years. The observation group showed significantly better postoperative QoL outcomes in the domains of physical functioning, emotional functioning, physical symptoms, global health status, and overall QoL compared to the control group (all P<0.05). Regarding treatment adherence, the observation group demonstrated superior performance in daily activity duration, use of a respiratory trainer, and adherence to coughing exercises compared to the control group (all P<0.001). The duration of chest tube indwelling was significantly shorter in the observation group (P<0.001). Furthermore, the observation group showed better recovery in albumin and hemoglobin levels (both P<0.05). Conclusion A combined telephone and WeChat follow-up approach can significantly improve the QoL and treatment adherence for patients discharged with an indwelling drainage tube. This method effectively shortens the duration of postoperative tube drainage, promotes nutritional recovery, and accelerates overall postoperative rehabilitation.

Objective:This study aims to evaluate the nasal structural and electrophysiological features of patients with postoperative olfactory dysfunction following aesthetic rhinoplasty.Methods:We retrospectively analyzed the clinical features of 30 outpatients (females, aged 33±6 years) from Beijing Anzhen Hospital and China-Japan Friendship Hospital between 2014 and 2023, who complained of olfactory dysfunction following aesthetic rhinoplasty. The control group was 30 healthy females aged 32±9 years. Psychophysical olfactory test (Sniffin′ Sticks, SS), olfactory and trigeminal event-related potentials (oERPs and tERPs), and acoustic rhinometry were used for evaluating the olfactory function and nasal structure in patients and healthy controls. SPSS 17.0 software was used to compare the difference in olfactory function and nasal structure between the two groups and to analyze the factors related postoperative olfactory dysfunction.Results:There was a significant difference in the scores on psychophysical olfactory test between the patients and controls (10.78±3.90 vs. 33.66±2.42, t=-23.35, P<0.001). ERPs could be evoked in all patients and controls. Patients showed higher amplitudes of N 1 waves in both oERPs and tERPs than controls ( P<0.05 for all), but no differences in the latencies of N 1 and P 2 waves or in the amplitudes of P 2 waves were observed between the two groups ( P>0.05 for all). There was no difference in nasal structure between the two groups ( P>0.05). However, after nasal decongestant, mucosal congestion in the cross-sectional area (CSA) from the nostril to 6 cm level was found more significantly in patients than controls (nasal congestion index 40.00% vs. 1.00%, t=2.09, P=0.047). Better olfactory function was associated with increasing nasal volumes, increasing nasal threshold and anterior nasal turbinate plane CSA( P<0.05 for all). Conclusion:The important factor related to olfactory dysfunction following aesthetic rhinoplasty may be attributed to local mucosal congestion, rather than nasal structural alteration or neurophysiologic deficits in the olfactory pathway.

Objective:To address the critical issue of missing dynamic border molding information in edentulous direct digital impression technology, this study explores innovative digital solutions and conducts preliminary application validation.Methods:Based on the myostatic line theory, a methodology was established: intraoral scanner (IOS) high-frequency video was utilized to dynamically capture functional molding data of soft tissues, integrated with a self-developed mobility gradient recognition algorithm to achieve dynamic threshold segmentation between the muscle dynamic zone and myostatic zone, termed "optical digital molding technology". Ten edentulous patients with well-fitting complete dentures, treated at the Department of Prosthodontics, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology from January 2024 to December 2024, were enrolled. The standard deviation between the muscle static line (generated by mobility gradient algorithm with thresholds of 0.3-0.7 mm) and the denture border curve was analyzed to optimize the dynamic threshold, followed by single-case clinical validation.Results:Among the mobility thresholds of 0.3-0.7 mm, the 0.5 mm threshold yielded the smallest standard deviation between the myostatic line and denture border. Clinical validation demonstrated that dentures designed with this threshold exhibited no displacement during dynamic functional tests, with marginal sealing meeting clinical standards.Conclusions:The optical digital border molding technique for edentulous soft tissue boundaries translates the myostatic line theory into quantifiable parameters for the first time. Based on data from 10 cases, a mobility threshold of 0.5 mm is recommended for clinical application.

Objective:To explore the diagnostic value of serum solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11), urinary retinol-binding protein (RBP) and transferrin (TRF) for acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients with sepsis.Methods:The clinical data of 204 patients with sepsis from January 2020 to December 2023 in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi′an Medical College were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 102 patients complicated with AKI (AKI group), including Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) classification Ⅰ stage 43 cases, Ⅱ stage 36 cases, Ⅲ stage 23 cases; 102 patients did not complicate with AKI (non-AKI group). Additionally, 102 healthy individuals from the same period were selected as a healthy control group. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the serum expression level of SLC7A11, and fully automatic biochemical analyzers were used to detect urinary RBP and TRF levels. For patients in AKI group and non-AKI group, the sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) was recorded; fully automatic analyzers were used to test hematological indicators, including creatinine, hemoglobin, platelet, albumin, uric acid, lactate, procalcitonin and C-reactive protein, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the independent risk factors of AKI in patients with sepsis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted to analyze the values of serum SLC7A11 and urinary RBP, TRF in assessing the risk of AKI in patients with sepsis.Results:The serum SLC7A11 and urinary RBP, TRF in non-AKI group and AKI group were significantly higher than those in healthy control group: (28.66 ± 6.22) and (36.18 ± 7.29) ng/L vs. (14.32 ± 2.63) ng/L, (1.20 ± 0.25) and (1.47 ± 0.31) mg/L vs. (0.44 ± 0.08) mg/L, (1.82 ± 0.39) and (2.26 ± 0.45) mg/L vs. (1.08 ± 0.19) mg/L, furthermore the indexes in AKI group were significantly higher than those in non-AKI group, and there were statistical differences ( P<0.05). The serum SLC7A11 and urinary RBP, TRF in patients with KDIGO Ⅱ stage and Ⅲ stage were significantly higher than those in patients with KDIGO Ⅰ stage: (37.16 ± 7.41) and (45.20 ± 8.29) ng/L vs. (30.53 ± 6.46) ng/L, (1.50 ± 0.28) and (1.72 ± 0.35) mg/L vs. (1.31 ± 0.26) mg/L, (2.26 ± 0.46) and (2.77 ± 0.59) mg/L vs. (1.99 ± 0.40) mg/L, furthermore the indexes in patients with KDIGO Ⅲ stage were significantly higher than those in patients with KDIGO Ⅱ stage, and there were statistical differences ( P<0.05). The SOFA, creatinine and lactate in AKI group were significantly higher than those in non-AKI group: 12 (9, 15) scores vs. 7 (5, 9) scores, (133.71 ± 13.58) μmol/L vs. (108.18 ± 14.32) μmol/L and (13.61 ± 3.57) mmol/L vs. (10.95 ± 3.10) mmol/L, the albumin and eGFR were significantly lower than those in non-AKI group: (21.48 ± 2.48) g/L vs. (24.85 ± 2.83) g/L and (51.57 ± 9.64) ml/(min·1.73 m 2) vs. (59.21 ± 10.67) ml/(min·1.73 m 2), and there were statistical differences ( P<0.01); there were no statistical differences in hemoglobin, platelet, uric acid, procalcitonin and C-reactive protein between two groups ( P>0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis result showed that the high SOFA, creatinine, lactate, SLC7A11, urinary RBP, urinary TRF, and low eGFR, albumin were independent risk factors for AKI in patients with sepsis ( OR = 4.864, 5.631, 2.315, 5.862, 6.852, 6.218, 0.328 and 0.226; 95% CI 1.701 to 13.907, 1.803 to 17.585, 1.350 to 3.969, 2.115 to 16.242, 2.177 to 21.566, 1.900 to 20.353, 0.151 to 0.713 and 0.092 to 0.555; P<0.01). The ROC curve analysis result showed that the area under the curve of the combined assessment of serum SLC7A11 and urinary RBP, TRF for AKI in patients with sepsis was significantly larger than serum SLC7A11 and urinary RBP, TRF alone (0.892 vs. 0.774, 0.765 and 0.755), and there was statistical difference ( Z = 2.97, 3.20 and 3.38; P<0.01). Conclusions:The elevated expression levels of serum SLC7A11 and urinary RBP and TRF in patients with sepsis have a high value for the combined detection and assessment of AKI.

Objective:To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) in children with stage 4/M neuroblastoma (NB).Methods:This study was a prospective, single-arm, multicenter clinical trial conducted by Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Children′s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Children′s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. From March, 2019 to August, 2023, 25 children with confirmed with stage 4/M NB and received allo-HSCT were enrolled. The patients received either unrelated cord blood transplantation (UCBT) or peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT). Conditioning regimens for UCBT was fludarabine+busulfan+cyclophosphamide+topotecan, and for PBSCT was fludarabine+busulfan+melphalan+thiotepa+antithymocyte globulin, respectively. Until the last follow-up date of September, 2023, the overall survival (OS) rate and event free survival (EFS) rate were analyzed to evaluate efficacy. The engraftment rate and transplant-related complications were statistically assessed to evaluate safety. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method.Results:Of the 25 patients, there were 15 males and 10 females. The age at transplantation was 5.7 (3.8, 7.3) years. The engraft rate was 100%, with recovery time of neutrophil as 15.7 (12.5, 17.0) d, and the recovery time of platelets as 33.5 (18.0, 48.0) d. Seventeen of the 25 children (68%) developed acute graft versus host disease (aGVHD), occurred at 18.0 (13.0, 22.5) d after transplantation, including 13 of grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ cases. The main sites of aGVHD were skin and intestinal tract. After treatment, 13 cases improved, 4 patients developed chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD). After allo-HSCT, 14 children received maintenance therapy. Twenty of the 25 patients survived, the 2-year cumulative OS rate was (80±9)%, and 2-year EFS rate was (56±11)%. Nine cases (36%) relapsed, the time from allo-HSCT to disease relapse was 10.9 (5.5, 16.0) months. Five cases (20%) died. The hematopoietic stem cell transplantation associated mortality rate was 4% (1/25).The 2-year OS rate of patients who had partial remission prior to allo-HSCT was significant lower than those who had complete remission prior to allo-HSCT ((33±25)% vs. 100%, P=0.037). Conclusion:allo-HSCT is an effective treatment for patients with stage 4/M NB.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and toxicity of blinatumomab in the first-line and second-line treatment of pediatric B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL).Methods:A multi-center retrospective cohort study was conducted to analyze clinical data from 323 pediatric B-ALL patients treated with blinatumomab across 14 hospitals in China from May 2021 to July 2023. Patients were divided into four groups based on the treatment phase and disease status when blinatumomab was used: relapsed/refractory group, post-consolidation minimal residual disease (MRD)-positive group, early MRD-positive group, and MRD-negative group. Blinatumomab for the relapsed/refractory group was considered as second-line treatment, while the other 3 groups as first-line treatment. The MRD negativity rate after treatment, the survival rates and the incidence of severe adverse events were compared across these groups. Patients who received blinatumomab for more than 7 days were included in the efficacy analysis. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method, and Log-Rank test was used to compare the survival rates among groups.Results:Among the 323 patients, 191 (59.1%) were male, with the age of 6.2 (3.9, 10.5) years. There were 117 patients in the relapsed/refractory group, 62 cases in the post-consolidation MRD-positive group, 43 cases in the early MRD-positive group, and 101 cases in the MRD negative group. In the relapsed/refractory group, the complete remission rate and MRD negativity rate after one course of blinatumomab were 71.4% (35/49) and 81.5% (75/92) for the 49 children without complete remission and the 92 children with flow cytometry-positive MRD, respectively. In the post-consolidation MRD-positive group, the MRD negativity rates after one course of blinatumomab were 100.0% (27/27), 12/16 and 9/19 for patients with MRD positivity detected by flow cytometry, polymerase chain reaction and next-generation sequencing, respectively. In the early MRD-positive group, the MRD negativity rates were 96.7% (29/30) and 9/9 for flow cytometry and next-generation sequencing, respectively. The 2-year overall survival rate and event-free survival rate for the 319 children evaluable for efficacy were (90.6±1.7)% and (87.6±1.9)%, respectively, with the relapsed/refractory group showing significantly lower overall survival rates and event-free survival rate compared to the other groups ( χ2=21.40, 26.21,both P<0.001). Grade 3 or higher adverse events occurred in 128 cases (39.6%), with hematological toxicity observed in 101 cases, while cytokine release syndrome (CRS), infection, and neurotoxicity occurred in 11, 26 and 8 cases, respectively. In addition, there were statistically significant differences in the grade 3 or higher CRS among the four groups ( χ2=8.03, P<0.05). Conclusion:Blinatumomab can clear MRD more effectively and achieve superior survival outcomes when used as first-line treatment for pediatric B-ALL, with less CRS.